The Bilt Rewards program has rapidly become a favorite among travel enthusiasts, and for good reason. While the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) grabs headlines as the only card earning points on rent without fees, the true hidden gem of Bilt lies in its impressive network of Bilt Travel Partners. These partnerships unlock exceptional value, transforming everyday spending into extraordinary travel experiences. You don’t even need the Bilt Mastercard to tap into this value – simply being a Bilt Rewards member opens the door to transferring your points to a diverse array of airlines and hotels.
What are Bilt Travel Partners and Why Do They Matter?
Travel partners are loyalty programs of airlines and hotels that have partnered with credit card rewards programs like Bilt Rewards. Instead of redeeming your points for less valuable options like cash back or merchandise, transferring them to bilt travel partners allows you to convert your points into airline miles or hotel points. This is where the magic happens. Airline miles and hotel points can often be redeemed for significantly more value than the typical 1 cent per point you might get from other redemption methods. Think business class flights to exotic destinations or luxurious hotel stays that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.
Bilt Rewards stands out by offering a particularly strong portfolio of bilt travel partners, rivaling even established programs like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. The majority of these transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio, meaning one Bilt Point becomes one mile or point with the partner program, maximizing your earning potential. This direct conversion is crucial for unlocking the best travel rewards.
Exploring Bilt’s Impressive Roster of Airline Partners
For those dreaming of taking to the skies, Bilt’s airline travel partners offer a plethora of options to reach destinations worldwide. Let’s delve into some key partners and how you can leverage them:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: A favorite among frequent flyers, Alaska Mileage Plan provides exceptional value for both domestic and international flights. Known for its generous award charts and partnerships within the Oneworld alliance and beyond, you can use Alaska miles earned from your bilt travel partners transfers for flights on Alaska, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and more. Consider using Alaska miles for flights to Hawaii, intra-Asia travel on Cathay Pacific, or even transatlantic flights on British Airways (keeping in mind potential surcharges).
Alt Text: Alaska Airlines aircraft ascending into the sky, showcasing the airline as a valuable Bilt travel partner.
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Air Canada Aeroplan: Aeroplan is the loyalty program of Air Canada and a member of the Star Alliance. This program is incredibly versatile, offering access to a vast network of airlines like United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. Transferring your Bilt Points to Aeroplan opens doors to Star Alliance award availability, often with reasonable redemption rates. Look to Aeroplan for North American travel on United, flights to Europe on Lufthansa or Swiss, or even aspirational trips to Asia on Singapore Airlines.
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Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, is your gateway to SkyTeam alliance airlines. As a bilt travel partner, Flying Blue offers access to flights on Air France, KLM, Delta, and more. Keep an eye out for Flying Blue’s Promo Rewards, offering discounted award flights on select routes. Flying Blue miles can be excellent for flights to Europe and beyond, especially on Air France and KLM.
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: While not part of a major alliance, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has unique sweet spots, particularly for flights on partner airlines like Delta Air Lines and ANA (All Nippon Airways). Using Virgin Points transferred from your bilt travel partners account, you can potentially snag incredible value on Delta One business class flights or ANA first class.
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United MileagePlus: As a Star Alliance member, United MileagePlus provides another avenue to access a wide range of destinations. United miles are useful for domestic flights within the US, as well as international travel on United and its Star Alliance partners. Transferring Bilt Points to United can be beneficial for maximizing award availability and finding convenient flight options.
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Other Notable Airline Partners: Bilt’s airline roster extends to Aer Lingus AerClub, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Cathay, Emirates Skywards, Iberia Plus, TAP Miles&Go, and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, each offering unique opportunities depending on your travel goals.
Unlocking Hotel Stays with Bilt Hotel Partners
Beyond airlines, Bilt also partners with prominent hotel loyalty programs, allowing you to transform your points into luxurious accommodations:
- World of Hyatt: Considered by many to be the most valuable hotel loyalty program, World of Hyatt offers exceptional redemption rates, particularly at its higher-end properties. Transferring Bilt Points to Hyatt is often considered one of the most lucrative uses of Bilt Points. Hyatt points can unlock stays at Park Hyatt, Andaz, and other premium brands for significantly less than the cash price.
Alt Text: Overwater bungalow at Park Hyatt Maldives, highlighting luxury hotel stays achievable with Bilt travel partners.
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Hilton Honors & Marriott Bonvoy & IHG One Rewards: These major hotel chains – Hilton, Marriott, and IHG – provide vast global networks, offering a wide range of hotel options at various price points. While generally not as high-value per point as Hyatt, transferring Bilt Points to these programs can still be useful, especially for leveraging points for stays during peak travel times or in expensive cities. Marriott Bonvoy even offers a bonus of 5,000 points for every 20,000 Bilt points transferred in a single transaction.
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ALL – Accor Live Limitless: Accor, with brands like Sofitel, Fairmont, and Novotel, expands Bilt’s hotel partner network, particularly for travelers interested in European and global destinations. While the transfer ratio to Accor is 3:2, it still provides another avenue to use your Bilt Points for hotel stays.
Maximizing Bilt Points with Transfer Bonuses
To further enhance the value of bilt travel partners, Bilt frequently offers transfer bonuses, particularly on Rent Day (the first of each month). These bonuses can significantly boost the number of miles or points you receive when transferring, making your redemptions even more rewarding. Historically, Bilt has offered bonuses as high as 150% to partners like Emirates Skywards and 100% to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Flying Blue. Keeping an eye on these transfer bonuses is crucial for maximizing your Bilt Points and achieving aspirational travel goals faster.
Beyond Travel Partners: Understanding Other Bilt Redemption Options
While bilt travel partners offer the highest potential value, Bilt Rewards provides other redemption options. These include booking travel through the Bilt travel portal, redeeming for merchandise in the Bilt Collection, or even using points for rent payments or Amazon purchases. However, these options generally offer a lower value per point compared to transferring to travel partners. To truly maximize your Bilt Rewards, focusing on leveraging bilt travel partners is the key.
Earning Bilt Points to Fuel Your Travel Partner Redemptions
The journey to incredible travel rewards begins with earning Bilt Points. Here are key ways to accumulate points and fuel your bilt travel partners strategy:
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Paying Rent (Especially with the Bilt Mastercard): This is Bilt’s unique selling point. Renters can earn points on rent payments, especially by using the Bilt Mastercard.
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Bilt Mastercard Spending: The Bilt Mastercard earns valuable points on everyday spending categories, including 3x on dining, 2x on travel, and 1x on other purchases (1x on rent, up to 100,000 points per year).
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Bilt Dining Program: Earn bonus points by dining at participating restaurants and paying with a linked card through the Bilt Dining program.
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Lyft Rides: Link your Bilt account to Lyft and earn bonus points on rides.
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Bilt Travel Portal: Earn points on travel booked through the Bilt portal, with bonus earnings for Bilt Mastercard holders.
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Referrals: Refer friends to the Bilt Mastercard and earn bonus points.
By strategically utilizing these earning methods, you can accumulate a substantial balance of Bilt Points, ready to be transformed into incredible travel experiences through bilt travel partners.
Conclusion: The Power of Bilt Travel Partners
The Bilt Rewards program offers a compelling value proposition, particularly for those who understand the power of bilt travel partners. By focusing on earning Bilt Points and strategically transferring them to airline and hotel partners, you can unlock outsized value and experience travel that would otherwise be out of reach. Whether you dream of flying business class across the globe or enjoying luxurious hotel stays, Bilt’s travel partners are your key to turning those dreams into reality. Explore the world of bilt travel partners and start planning your next unforgettable adventure today.
See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here. See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.
